Spain deploys 500 more troops to fight wildfires amid prolonged heatwave

Spain Increases Military Deployment to Combat Wildfires

Spain is taking significant steps to address the ongoing wildfire crisis, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announcing the deployment of an additional 500 soldiers to assist in fighting the blazes. This move comes as the country faces a prolonged period of intense heat, which has led to widespread wildfires across various regions. The new military personnel will join over 1,400 troops already on the ground, working to contain fires that have been raging in parched woodlands.

The situation is particularly dire in the northwestern Galicia region, where 12 major wildfires are active near the city of Ourense. Alfonso Rueda, head of the Galician regional government, highlighted the severity of the situation during a joint press conference with Mr. Sánchez. Authorities are also waiting for promised aircraft reinforcements from other European countries to bolster firefighting efforts.

“Homes are still under threat so we have lockdowns in place and are carrying out evacuations,” Rueda said. Galicia has been battling the spreading flames for more than a week, with no signs of relief in sight.

Extreme Weather Conditions Exacerbate Fire Risks

Temperatures in Spain could reach 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas on Sunday, according to the Spanish national weather agency AEMET. On Saturday, the maximum temperature was recorded at 44.7 degrees Celsius (112.46 degrees Fahrenheit) in the southern city of Córdoba.

“This Sunday, when extraordinarily high temperatures are expected, the danger of wildfires is extreme in most of the country,” AEMET stated on the social platform X. The combination of extreme heat and dry conditions has created a perfect storm for wildfires, making containment efforts even more challenging.

According to the European Union’s European Forest Fire Information System, wildfires in Spain this year have burned 158,000 hectares (390,000 acres), an area roughly equivalent to metropolitan London. Europe has been warming twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. Scientists attribute this trend to climate change, which is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves and droughts, making the region more susceptible to wildfires.

International Support and Evacuation Measures

Spain was expecting the arrival of two Dutch water-dumping planes to join aircraft from France and Italy, which are already helping Spanish authorities under a European cooperation agreement. Firefighters from other countries are also expected to arrive in the region in the coming days, according to Virginia Barcones, chief of Spain’s Civil Protection Agency.

National rail operator Renfe suspended Madrid-Galicia high-speed train services scheduled for Sunday due to the fires. Galician authorities have advised people to wear face masks and limit their time spent outdoors to avoid inhaling smoke and ash.

Portugal is set for cooler weather in the coming days after a spate of severe woodland fires. A national state of alert due to wildfires was enacted on August 2 and was set to end on Sunday, just a day before two Swedish firefighting planes were to arrive. Like Spain, Portugal’s resources have been stretched thin, with over 4,000 firefighters and more than 1,300 vehicles deployed, along with 17 aircraft.

Broader Impact Across Europe

Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and Albania have also requested help from the EU’s firefighting force in recent days to deal with forest fires. The force has already been activated as many times this year as in all of last year’s summer fire season.

The scale of the wildfires across Europe highlights the growing challenges posed by climate change. As temperatures continue to rise and dry conditions become more frequent, the risk of devastating wildfires is expected to increase, putting pressure on governments and emergency services to respond effectively.